GM 66: (W – FRICK) RAPID REACTS

I would like to have seen Thad grab more than 3 rebounds and have passed up that ill-advised 3PA he launched in the 1st Q, but outside of those two items it was a very good night for #21. His coast-to-coast for an AND1 in the early third was awesome to watch. He also scored 4 straight on two different stretches in the 2nd Q. The steal Thad snatched in the 4th Q was ridiculous.

That’s 6 double-doubles in the last 11 games for Spencer. I wasn’t crazy about his 3PA in the 1st Q and his defense on Aldridge for most of the night was not good. Although it was rock solid on that last POR possession vs. Aldridge. Overall Spence is playing out of his mind right now so I am not going to complain too much. I just wish he could have done this all year.

There was a stretch in the early to mid 4th Q where I thought Jrue lost his mind while launching ill-advised 3PAs early in the shot clock, but overall a great night for “The Jruth”. He recovered to score 11 points in the 4th including a huge leaner in the closing minutes that put the Sixers up 5.

Wright scored 12 points in 14 mins. during the first half and then lost his stroke. He ended with 16 points on 14 FGAs which is not an efficient scoring night. However, I’ll give Wright credit for grabbing some key boards as well as getting to the FT line and knocking ’em down.

I wonder if the docs who are working on Bynum’s knees on Tuesday can put a heart in this stiff?

Doug Collins

I have to assume that DC has tweaked the offense to push the rock a little more often and work the ball from the inside on more half-court trips. Unfortunately the changes have come too late and now the wins are killing us. I also really liked that he did not double Aldridge on that last Blazers possession.

After the Jump, Six Things We Saw…

1. A hell of a 1st half by the Sixers…A quick start led to an early 10-4 lead. There was excellent ball movement and some nice FB baskets as well as an active defense that caused 11 TOs. 58% shooting; 25 FGM on 19 assists; 4 players in double figures; 6 FTAs. IMO there was an effort to push the pace of this game early, to move the ball quickly and to work the ball inside. It was great basketball to watch.

2. The 7-6 were in control of this one for most of the night until late 3rd Q when they decided to waste a 14-point lead. Thanks to an 0-5 stretch by the Sixers to end the 3rd, Portland put together a 8-0 run. The Sixers took 4-of-their-last-5 FGAs in the Q from 18+ feet out. The rough stretch continued into the 4th as the Sixers went 1-5 with 4 TOs to start the 4th. That extended into a 2-8 streak. The dry spell allowed the Blazers to go on a 8-0 run and take the lead at the 4:58 mark on a Luke Babbitt 3-ball.

3. The Sixers hit a huge dry spell in the 2nd Q when they went nearly 4 mins without a hoop. Luckily the Sixers defense was very solid and active during that spell and they were able to keep the Blazers at arms length (down 8).

4. In a shocking turn of events, Twitter was alive tonight with word that Andrew Bynum will need surgery on both of his knees. Hats off to Jason Wolf of delawareonline.com for writing months ago that this would likely happen to Bynum.

5. An 8-0 run by the Sixers in the very, very late 4th Q gave the Sixers enough cushion to hold on to the win despite trying to give it away.

6. After going 3-1 on this 4 game home stand, The Sixers play 12 of their final 16 games on the road. The Sixers have dropped 13 in a row on the road since beating the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 1 and are 6-23 overall.